On May 5 at a San José City Council Meeting, Raj Jayadev, founder of the watchdog group Silicon Valley deBug, spoke about the deteriorating trust between the San José Police Department and the people of San Jose. In his testimony he called for greater citizen oversight of the San Jose Police Department.

The San José Police Officers Association (SJPOA) took a copy of Mr. Jayadev's official recorded testimony and had their way with it. Specifically, they turned it over to a PR firm they have hired to discredit critics of the police department. That group produced an altered version of the video for the SJPOA website. The altered video attempts to attack Raj Jayadev's credibility, making snide comments about his clothing and use of colloquial language, and adding in quotes from City Council members taken out of context.

On June 8, two City Council members, Sam Liccardo and Ash Kalra, quickly denounced inflammatory statements as well as the video on the police union website. The Council members noted that activist Raj Jayadev's testimony was incorrectly characterized as a threat, and signed a letter stating that, "First Amendment freedoms may be chilled when dissent is characterized as threats". Community activists are calling on Police Chief Rob Davis, Mayor Chuck Reed and the rest of the city council to join in disavowing the police union's response to its critics.

Read more | Council Members Take Police to Task for Targeting Activists | Complete Text of Council Members' Letter | Silicon Valley deBug

When San José police shot and killed 27-year-old Daniel Pham in his own backyard last month, many San Jose residents immediately recalled an eerily similar situation 6 years ago when another Vietnamese immigrant, Cau Bich Tran, was also killed by police in her home. In the recent incident, relatives were shouting “don’t kill him, he’s mentally ill!" Yet Daniel Pham was shot and killed within 3 minutes of police response to a call asking for assistance because the victim had brandished a knife.  In the instance 6 years ago, officers arrived at Cau Bich Tran's house in San José, responding to a domestic disturbance call. They shot her after mistaking her vegetable peeler for a cleaver.

Public outcry surrounding Tran’s killing in 2003 created a new policy requiring the city's Independent Police Auditor to review officer involved shootings. But there will be no such review in the case of last month's killing of Daniel Pham. The policy was rescinded by a controversial opinion offered by City Attorney Richard Doyle in 2007.

Today the city of San José faces a new round of public scrutiny. City officials came under criticism for trying to hire the brother of a city police officer as the city's Independent Police Auditor last month, and the police department is being legally challenged over its high rate of arresting Latinos on charges of public intoxication. City policies are being questioned and the public is demanding more input into the process as the City Council begins another effort to find a new top cop watcher. Read more

On May 26th, a delegation of several janitors who were laid off from their jobs at Cisco Systems' corporate headquarters met with San Jose City Council members to share their stories and appeal for the elected officials to reach out to Cisco decision makers on their behalf. The janitors met with staff of City Council members including Madison Nguyen, Ash Kalra, Kansen Chu, and Rose Herrera; and left information for members Nora Campos and Sam Liccardo.

More than 75 vulnerable, low-wage janitors - more than 40% of the total workforce - were laid off by Cisco's contractor ABM in February, despite the tech company's enormous profitability and more than $34 billion in cash assets. Since then, the janitors and hundreds of Silicon Valley community supporters have launched a series of escalating mobilizations to urge the corporation to be a responsible corporate citizen and put the janitors back to work.

The janitors and their community supporters have vowed to continue to their actions to appeal to Cisco to put the wellbeing of hardworking service workers ahead of corporate profits.

Read More With Photos | Massive Protest Decrying Cisco Systems’ Mistreatment of Workers | Justice At Cisco

Previous Indybay Coverage

On May 21st, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC) joined in a defense attorneys’ motion in the U.S. District Court in San Jose to dismiss U.S.A. v. Buddenberg, a federal prosecution of four animal rights activists in California—known as the AETA 4—for alleged conspiracy to commit animal enterprise terrorism. The four have been charged with conduct that includes First Amendment protected activities such as protesting, chalking the sidewalk, chanting and leafleting. The motion asks the Court to strike down the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) as unconstitutional.

“To characterize protest and speech as terrorist activities is ludicrous,” said CCR cooperating attorney Matthew Strugar. “And it is not just animal rights activists who are in danger here. The AETA is so broad and unclear it could be used to suppress lawful protests and boycotts by any activists across the spectrum, no matter what the issue. The law must be struck down.”

Passed by Congress in November, the AETA is aimed at suppressing speech and advocacy by criminalizing First Amendment-protected activities such as protests, boycotts, picketing and whistleblowing. It targets animal rights activists, but includes language so broad and vague it could be used to prosecute labor activists who organize a successful boycott of Wal-Mart, or union folks who picket a university cafeteria. Pushed through Congress by a powerful lobby of corporations and research institutions, the AETA is an unconstitutional law, because it criminalizes a broad swath of protected First Amendment activities and is so unclear as to fail to give people notice of whether or not their conduct is lawful. Read more

The Center for Constitutional Rights created an online petition for people to write their senator and representative to demand that they repeal the AETA.

see also: Obama administration targets environmental and animal rights activists as eco-terrorists | Government files responses to AETA4 motion to dismiss

Previous coverage: Activists Arrested for Chalking Sidewalks, Protesting with Bandanas, and Leaflet Distribution

With Mexican flags and music, Cinco de Mayo was celebrated in San José on May 3rd with the usual pride and enthusiasm. People were just trying to have some safe fun driving slowly down Santa Clara Street, the main thoroughfare from Mexican Heritage Plaza and the east side of the city into downtown. Some were showing off their lowriders and colors of Mexico. Others came by foot, bicycle, bus, and lightrail. The crowds were smaller than previous years, but that did not stop San José police from targeting Latinos.

Indybay contributor Sharat G. Lin walked along Santa Clara Street from Fourth Street to Market Street for a half hour from approximately 6:10pm to 6:40pm and again from about 7:10pm to 7:40pm. Standing well out of the way of police and the stopped vehicles, Sharat photographed each incident to document the police stop and also to let police know that they were being monitored.

During those two half-hour intervals on four blocks of Santa Clara Street, there were no fewer than 14 separate cars stopped by San José police in what appeared to be deliberate fishing expeditions. This amounts to nearly one stop every four minutes. Read more and view photos

Increased concern about the lack of meaningful immigration reform and the high rate of Latino arrests for minor and trumped up charges brought out large numbers of demonstrators to San José's City Hall Plaza in two separate demonstrations during the first week of May. San José police have arrested more people for public drunkenness in recent years than any other department in California. Latinos are being arrested in disproportionate numbers and immigrants, when caught up in DUI sweeps, face potential loss of their pathway to US citizenship. Close examination of arrests in the city reveal a pattern not found in other large cities or in statewide totals.

On May 1st, groups including Voluntarios de la Comunidad and Silicon Valley Alliance for Immigration Reform organized a march from the major intersection of King and Story that wound its way through the city streets to a final rally at City Hall Plaza. Activists called for immigration reform and an end to raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). May first is also International Workers Day and speakers acknowledged solidarity with the world's workers who are suffering from the recession at a time when bankers are receiving government bailouts.

On May 5, Cinco de Mayo, a protest in front of City Hall preceded a City Council meeting where residents expressed that city dwellers can no longer trust the police. The demonstration of about 100 people was a tense affair, held under the intimidating presence of mounted police. Standing in the large open-air plaza, competing with loud music from the opposite side of City Hall, and restricted to the use of one small megaphone by city officials who monitored the event, individuals of Latino, Muslim and African-American heritage recounted their experiences at the hands of overzealous and biased police officers.

Read more | Cops Watch Copwatchers in San José | City Officials Try to Silence Outcry Against Police Brutality | Voluntarios de la Comunidad

Activists took a stand for human rights in front of a Verizon Store in Santa Clara, California on March 30th. Verizon carries Motorola cell phones and accessories — Motorola makes military guidance systems and fuses used in a variety of bombs which they sell to the Israeli army. Demonstrators passed out flyers calling for a boycott against Motorola. Demands include: End production and sales of fuses and other weapons components to Israel; End sales of communication devices to Israel (The "Mountain Rose Communication System" that Motorola designed for the Israeli military enables military invasions and a regime of over 600 checkpoints that prevent Palestinians from getting to school, work and hospitals across Palestinian); End sales of all products that support Israel's separation barrier and settlements, including the "Wide Area Surveillance Sytem" manufactured by Motorola-Israel.

Photos | New York kicks off boycott campaign against Motorola

Pam Walton, Producer/Director of the film *Raging Grannies: The Action League*, is an award-winning independent video producer who is dedicated to telling the truth about American life. She is most interested in changing our culture's prejudicial views of racial minorities and gay and lesbian people, and in promoting citizen involvement in democracy. When she first met the activist group of older women called Raging Grannies on the street where they were demonstrating against the stolen presidential election of 2004, she was immediately intrigued. She followed the daily lives and "gigs" of the Grannies for over two years to produce this, her newest, documentary.

From San Francisco where they sing for women's rights by the Bay at the annual counter-protest to "pro-life" occupiers of the city, to San Jose where they rage against racism, and in Mountain View dressed as "Brides against Proposition 8" and many venues in between, the Raging Grannies have got the Bay area covered and Pam Walton's film doesn't miss a beat.

Heather Robinson of Curve Magazine sums up what is great about this special feature saying it "captures these kick a#$ women in action, with insight into who they are, where they came from and why they set aside their knitting to make the world a better place." She reminds everyone it would be a shame to "miss out on the mini revolutions happening on our own streets."

The documentary premiers on March 7 at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose and screens again on March 8. The Raging Grannies welcome the audience in person at both screenings in song, with an opportunity for Q and A with the film's director and some of the most venerable activists in the Bay Area, from their late fifties to ninety plus years!

Read more

What's *LEFT* for Cinequest | film description and trailer | Event Details March 7 Premiere | Event Details March 8 Screening

Relatives say that 28-year-old Richard Lua was trying to enter his home on February 11th when he was shocked with a taser by police, went into medical distress, and died. Two San Jose police officers chased Lua from a location near his residence, clubbed him with batons and jolted him with a taser. Richard Lua's death brings the total number of deaths following the use of tasers by police in San Jose to six since June 2004 when the city's Police Department eliminated its rules limiting taser use. In December 2008, Amnesty International reported that since 2001, at least 334 people in the United States have died after being shocked by a taser.

The San Jose Police Department is now under investigation by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office who is monitoring the case. The Santa Clara County medical examiner has not released the cause of Lua's death, but the the victim's family reports that he had no known medical conditions that would have led to such a sudden demise. On February 20th, Silicon Valley DeBug, and other concerned activists, held an art and awareness event to raise money for the family to help cover costs associated with Richard Lua's untimely death. Lua was a father to a young child.

At San Jose State University, students are questioning why police are using a weapon that kills so frequently. In an interview with the student paper, The Spartan Daily, a freshman said, "It is shocking because that is what police use all the time on people, and it is not supposed to kill them, just stop them." The SJSU campus police use tasers. They say they have yet to cause a taser-related death on campus. Some are wondering if it is just a matter of time before that happens.

San Jose Taser Death Raises Questions | Gathered Together for Richard Lua, Victim of San Jose Police | Hard Knock Radio on Police Use of Tasers

See also: Dozens March to Ban Tasers in Santa Rosa || Canadian RCMP: "taser guns can kill" -- to restrict use of tasers || Family of San Jose man who was killed by police taser February 11, 2009 are outraged || Another Taser Death from SJPD

In lieu of recent high profile cases of police brutality and murder, some in the community remember that these atrocities are an ongoing epidemic in the Chicano and Black communities. On February 17, 2004, Rudy Cardenas, a father of five children, was shot and killed by state narcotics agent Michael Walker in San Jose. Jesse Villarreal, a nephew of Rudy Cardenas, was interviewed on February 14th about his uncle’s murder, the organizing efforts to bring attention to the issue, the results of the case, and how this incident is similar to the case involving the murder of Oscar Grant.

Walker was formerly a police officer in Watsonville, where he had a history of reported misconduct. Moreover, the murders of Oscar Grant and Rudy Cardenas have three things in common: both victims were shot in the back by the officers, both victims were unarmed, and both officers in the case are being defended with attorneys recommended by the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) Legal Defense Fund. Read more and listen to audio

Previous Rudy Cardenas coverage: San Jose Demands Justice for Rudy Cardenas || Family of Rudy Cardenas Fights Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Killer Cop || San Jose Marks One Year Since The Murder Of Rudy Cardenas || Michael Walker, Killer of Rudy Cardenas, Goes to Trial || Agent Walker Found Not Guilty || Cops Keep it Gangsta

Two American Jewish women, Donna and Darlene Wallach, left their lives behind in San Jose six months ago to break the Israeli siege of Gaza. Courageously sailing on the first two Free Gaza boats, SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty, they had no idea of their fate at the hands of the Israeli navy, which has maintained a total sea blockade of Gaza since the 1970s.

“We had no idea that we would ever reach Gaza. We were preoccupied with what we would do if the Israeli navy stopped us,” Donna recalled.

But after many threats and much intimidation, the Israeli government backed down and let them through. Intense pressure from some European governments like Greece and Cyprus helped. But it is probable that some behind-the-scenes advice from the U.S. government persuaded the Israelis to avoid the adverse publicity of a confrontation in the midst of the U.S. presidential election campaign. On August 23, 2008, the two boats sailed into Gaza Port to the ecstatic cheers of tens of thousands of Palestinians who lined the docks and crammed into boats to receive them.

On January 25th, the two sisters arrived at Mineta San Jose International Airport to a heroes’ welcome. Some two dozen friends and supporters greeted them with banners and hugs as they emerged from the security checkpoint. Read more and view photos

previous coverage: Jan. 2009 Protests in San Jose for Gaza || San Jose Activist, Detained by Israeli Navy in Gaza Waters, Deported (Nov. 27, 2008) || San Jose Activist & 17 Others Detained by Israeli Navy (Nov. 18, 2008) || Human Rights Activists Arrive In Gaza By Sea (Aug. 23, 2008)

On Sunday, January 11, more than a thousand people demonstrated against Israeli attacks on Gaza in a suburban shopping district in San Jose, California. This was the second Sunday in a row that demonstrators, many dressed in the colors of the Palestinian flag, started their protest by chanting and wielding signs in front of a typical 1960's era shopping strip. They then stopped traffic as they filled the streets a block away in a fashion district featuring luxury retailers.

Demonstrations at "Peace Crossroads" at the corner of Winchester and Stevens Creek Boulevards in San Jose were sporadic before 2001, but have been held every weekend since the US invasion of Iraq. With the Israeli attack on Gaza that began at the end of last year, record numbers of people are showing up in demonstrations that have taken on a colorful red/white/green/black theme. On January 4th, approximately 1,200 people gathered at the Winchester Shopping Center, a shopping strip with BevMo and David's Bridal chain stores. The parking lot and corner quickly filled with suburban families, including many women and children. As more people arrived, they soon filled all four corners of the intersection.

An impromptu and peaceful march headed down towards the tony Santana Row district after about two hours at the shopping strip intersection. There protesters marched pass high-end luxury retailers such as Gucci and Brooks Brothers, filling the streets and temporarily halting all traffic in the privately owned shopping district. Police were on hand to monitor traffic and there were no arrests. A similar scene with close to an equal number of demonstrators followed the same march route the following Sunday.

With no ceasefire in sight, and the Israeli attacks on Gaza escalating daily, protesters have vowed to continue their outcry. Demonstrations are now scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays from noon starting in front of the "old" shopping strip. A weekday demonstration has been added to the schedule of organized protest. Demonstrations at the corner of Stevens Creek and Wnchester will be held on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30pm "for as long as the people of Gaza are suffering" say organizers.

Read more | Mobilizing Now Three Days a Week | Fashion Statements for a Free Palestine | Red White Green Black for Palestine! | San Jose Peace and Justice Center

In an open letter to the Lesbian and Gay community sent during his campaign, president-elect Obama promised, "I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans." On January 10th, three South Bay activist groups came together to lead a rally calling on Mr. Obama to hold true to his word.

In his letter to the LGBT community, in which he asked for their votes, Obama stated that he does not believe the federal government should stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples, including the right to civil marriage. On Saturday, South Bay activists gathered signatures to remind the soon-to-be president that he stated he supports the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and that he also committed to working for repeal of the " Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy that affects gays in the military.

At the forefront of the rally was concern that hate crimes against the LGBTI community do not carry federal punishments. Participants expressed outrage and deep concern over a vicious and brutal hate crime that took place in the San Francisco Bay Area recently, when a Richmond resident was targeted because of her sexual orientation. Obama has said that he would place the weight of his administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw such hate crimes. Demonstrators held a moment of silence for the victim who is known to the public only as "Richmond Jane Doe". The organizers of Saturday's event had made a wishing well bucket and passed it amongst rally participants raising close to five hundred dollars to help the woman and her family relocate and recover.

Local elected leaders spoke out for LGBTQI equality at the rally, the Rainbow Women's Chorus belted out songs of dignity, and the Raging Grannies emceed the event leading the group in a song against LGBTQI hate crimes to the tune of "America the Beautiful" entitled, "Oh Beautiful for Hate-Free Skies".

Read more | South Bay Against LGBTQI Hates Crimes | Elected Leaders Speak Out for LGBQTI Rights | Join the Impact San Jose

In the early evening of December 20th, LGBT activists lit up the night for marriage rights in gatherings throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. In San Francisco, protesters demonstrated with a candlelight vigil in Union Square crowded with holiday shoppers, while in the South Bay city of San Jose, activists chose CineArts theater as the location for their rally. CineArts Theater is owned by Cinemark, whose CEO donated to the Yes on 8 campaign.

Alan Stock, who is a Utah Mormon, gave $9,999 to support the proposition that bans gay marriage in the state of California. Yet he is benefitting from his company's screening the documentary about Harvey Milk, a man who fought against the repression of gays and lesbians. Demonstrators in San Jose passed out flyers Saturday night, encouraging moviegoers to see the film elsewhere. At another theater in the Cinemark chain, CineArts in Palo Alto Square, activists have been putting flyers on cars in the theater parking lot.

The handouts remind movie viewers that they should not let Cinemark profit from Harvey Milk's legacy. As an expression of their outrage, activists created the flyers with phrases such as "No Milk for Cinemark Theaters" and "Don't Let Bigoted Bullies Steal Your Milk Money". Cinemark Theaters is a chain that includes CineArts, Century and Tinseltown theaters.

Read More With Photos | See the Movie Milk but NOT at CineArts | Candlelight, Camera, National Action | Vigil in downtown San Jose | Join the Impact